[Native Americana] [Lewis, James Otto] Schweighofer, Julius. Near-Contemporary Sketchbook of Images from James Otto Lewis' "Aboriginal Port Folio"

Missouri, ca. 1851. Comprising 52 pen and ink, watercolor, and graphite sketches, on 28 leaves (rectos only) by Julius Schweighofer, being copies of images from James Otto Lewis's Aboriginal Port Folio; the majority captioned in ink below image. Full crimson straight-grain morocco over boards, decorated in blind and in gilt, rubbing to boards and extremities; front hinge split, with some leaves at front starting; inscribed at front: "Omakass Territoire Indien New Braska 14 Avril 1851 J. Schweighofer Engineer on the steamer Chipaway of St. Louis State of Missouri U.S. of Amerika"; scattered soiling; wear along edges of several leaves; some leaves starting or sprung. Lot includes eight pieces of ephemera related to Schweighofer, including his Steam Engine Makers Society membership certificate, his State of Missouri-issued document announcing his intention to become a U.S. citizen, a printed calling card, four pieces of French currency, and a blank photo postcard.

A fine sketchbook, featuring near-contemporary copies of images from the earliest and rarest color-plate book on America's Indigenous peoples, James Otto Lewis' Aboriginal Port Folio. First published in parts from May-December 1835, the Aboriginal Port Folio records the dress of the Potawatomi, Winnebago, Shawnee, Sioux, Miami, Fox, Iowa and other tribes, created at treaty councils of Prairie du Chien, Fort Wayne, Fond du Lac, and Green Bay. Publication was costly, and the work was intended to be issued in 10 parts, each comprising 8 plates, and issued in printed wrappers. The publisher's bankruptcy during the printing of part 9 caused the edition to be reduced; part 10 was barely finished and sparsely distributed (and is thus now virtually unobtainable). An 11th part would have contained "Historical and Biographical Description of the Indians," but it was never published.

The present album contains copies of the following images, completed in varying degrees of accomplishment: Com-mo-sa-qua, a Pottawatomie chief; Mac-cut-i-mish-e-ca-cu-cac, or Black Hawk, Sae chief; Pen-now-we-ta, a Miami chief; Pach-e-po, a Pottawatomie chief; She-Sheba or the Little Duck, Winnebago chief; Me-no-quet, Pottawatomie chief; Pe-schick-e, Chippewa chief; a Miami chief; a young Miami chief; Pe-Che- Co, Pottawatomie chief; Cut-Taa-Tas-Tia, chief of the Fox Tribe; the son of a Miami chief; Francis Godfroy, chief among the Miamis; Wadt-He-Doo-Kaana, chief of the Winnebagoes; Waa-Top-E-Not, a Fox chief; Waa-Kaun-See-Ka, or the Rattle Snake, a Winnebago chief; Mauck-Coo-Maun, Ioway chief; Richardville, head chief of the Miamis; Ash-E-Taa-Na-Quet, Chippewa chief; Chat-O-Nis-See, Potawatomi Chief; Ottawa Chief; Kee-O-Tuck-Kee, a Pottawatomie Chief; a Sioux Chief; Wa-Em-Boesh-Kaa, a Chippewa Chief; Wa-Kaun or The Snake, a Winnebago Chief; Jack-O-Pa or the Six, a Chippewa Chief; At-Te-Conse, or the Young Reindeer, a Chippewa Chief; Pe-A-Jick, a Chippewa Chief; The Little Crow, Sioux Chief; wife of O-Check-Ka, or Four Legs; Shounk-Chunk the Black Wolf, a Winnebago Chief; Weesh-Cub, or the Sweet, Chippewa Chief; Tenskwatawa, Shawnee prophet; O-Wan-Ich-Koh or the Little Elk, a Winnebago Chief; Waa-Bin-De-Ba, or The White Headed Eagle, a Chippewa Chief; Tshu-Gue-Ga, half Winnebago and half French chief; aw-Taa-Waa-Be-Ta or the Snagle'd Tooth, A Chippewa Chief; Cha-Co-To, Pottawatomie Chief; Na-She-Mung-Ga, a Miami Chief; Mi-A-Qua-A, a Miami Chief; Kee-Me-One, or Rain, Chippewa Chief; et al.

[Native Americana] [Lewis, James Otto] Schweighofer, Julius. Near-Contemporary Sketchbook of Images from James Otto Lewis' "Aboriginal Port Folio"

[Native Americana] [Lewis, James Otto] Schweighofer, Julius. Near-Contemporary Sketchbook of Images from James Otto Lewis' "Aboriginal Port Folio"